Mechanical cut-out



(N0 Model.)

J. W. BATTERSHALL.

MECHANICAL GUT-OUT.

No. 414,966. Patented Nov. 12, 1889.

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UNITED STATES.

PAT NT OFFICE.

JOSEPH \V. BA'ITERSIIALL, OF ATTLEBOROUGII, )IASSACHUSE'MS.

MECHANICAL CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 414,966, dated November12, 1889.

Application filed May 4, 1889. Serial No. 309,555. (No model.)

T at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J osnrn W. BATTER- SHALL, of Attleborougl1,in thecounty of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Electric Out-Outs, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention has reference to an improve ment in an electrical switchor cut-out used for connectingand disconnecting parts of an electriccircuit.

The invention is particularly designed for electric circuits usingcurrents for electric lighting or electric power, but is applicable toall electric circuits where portions of the circuit are required to becut out at times.

The invention consists in the peculiar and novel construction by whichfour insulated metallic sections, eachprovided with a binding-post, areheld in contact with two metallic segments insulated from each other,which form the bridge between the two pairs of the four sections, andwhich by a partial revolution will change the direction of the currentwithout breaking contact, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In electric switches or cut-outs as heretofore constructed in cutting ina loop of the circuit or an instrument there is an interval oftimebetween the breaking and making of the circuit, which interval,however short, is liable to produce a spark when the conductors carrycurrents of 'high tension, as in electric lighting and in conveyingelectric energy for power. The dangers from such sparks to the cut-outand the liability of fire are well known.

The object of this invention is to prevent such sparks and the breakingof the circuit in the cutting out or the cutting in of a loop,

and to this purpose my improved cut-out or switch is made so that incutting out the loop of, the circuit the main circuit is firstshortcircuited, and this short-circuitin g is increased until the switchcontact-surface exceeds the conducting capacity of the circuit-Wiresbefore the contact with the loop is broken. In the same manner, when theloop is cut in,the contact-surface in the switch on the direct circuitis diminished, the contact with the loop of the circuit is made, and thecontact-surface gradually changed, so that the resistance through theloop is diminished until the short circuit is broken.

Figure 1 is a top View of my improved cutout, partly shown in brokenlines. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same, showing the operating-leversand the spring by which the cutout is securely held in two oppositePositions. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the device on a line throughthe center.

I11 the drawings similar numbers of reference designate correspondingparts throughout.

The device is shown as mounted on the base 4, made, preferably, of woodor other suitable material of low conductivity. The base 4 is formedwith the projections 5. In the base 4 is formed the circular cavity 6.Secured to the base and projecting upward in the cavity 6 are the pins7. The disk 8, made of non conducting material, rests on the spring 9,so that it has vertical motion. The disk 8 is held against rotary motionby the pins 7. ing a hole in the center and provided with radial spring-arms. An ordinary coiled spring or springs may be used in placethereof.

On the disk 8, of insulating material, the four metal sections l0, 11,12, and 13 are secured so as to be insulated from each other, the spacesIt, 15, 16, and 17 separating the metal sections. The metal sections 10,11,12, and 13 are each-provided with the upward projecting edge 18.These projections form a circular rim, in which the disk 19 turns withthe bridge-segments 20, which are secured to the insulated disk 19. Thesections 10,11, 12, and 13 are provided with the projections 21, inwhich the clamp-screws 22 are threaded, by which the conductor-wires 23,24, 25, and 26 are secured by passing the end of the wires through ahole and fastening the same by screwing the binding-screw onto the wire,and thus secure the contact with the metal sections 10, ll, 12, and 13.The projecting rims 18 of these sections maybe omitted, and any of thewell-known forms of binding-posts may be used to secure theconductor-wires to the sections.

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27 is a central post made round the greater part of its length, so as toturn in the base 4 and insulating-disk 8, and square near its up: perend, where it passes through the insulating-disk 1.9, and is providedwith a square projection at its lower end, where it is secured to thelever 28 by a screw.

The thumb screw 29 engages with the threaded upper end of the post 27,and serves to hold the segmental bridge-pieces in contact with thesections 10, 11, 12, and 13. The spring 9 allows for any slightinequality and holds the metal of the sections and bridgesegments inyielding spring-pressed contact, regulated by the thumb-screw 29.

In equipments for electric lighting or the transmission of electricpower it is important .that the switch or cut-out shall be moved quicklyand be locked in the cut-out and cutin position. For this purpose thelever 28is provided with the gear 34, meshing with the gear 35 on thehand-lever 30, pivoted at 31. The levers 28 and 30 are connected bymeans of the two ends of the coiled spring 32, the strain exerted bywhich holds the end of the lever 28 in contact with one or the other ofthe stops 33.

The operation of my improved switch and cut-out is as follows: Let usconsider, for the purpose of illustration, that the conduct-orwire 23,connected with section 10, and the conductor-wire 26, connected withsection 13, form part of the main circuit, and that the conductor-wire24, connected with section 11, and the conductor-wire 25, connected withsection 12, are the ends of a loop connecting with a lamp or series ofelectric lamps or machines or a branch loop used for any purpose. Theswitch or cut-out, as shownin Fig. 1, with the bridge-segments 20 in theposition shown in broken lines, connects the loop 24 25 with the maincircuit 23 26, and the connection is one presenting a very largecontact-surface far in excess of the conducting capacity of theconductor-wires. When, now, the post 27 is turned by the use of thelevers 28-and 30, the bridge-segments 2O slide on the sections. Theforward end of each segment in the direction of its motion will passbeyond the conditions, will receive the electric current, 5 5

is short-circuited from the conductor to the conductor 26, and thisshort circuit improves by the gradual increase of the surfaces incontact until the ends of the bridge-segments reach the ends of thesections and the cut-out -is-completed,when the spaces 15 1.7 intervenebetween the bridge-segments 20 20 and the sections 11 12 and 10 13.

By the use of the connected levers 28 and 30 and the spring 32 thecutting in or out of the loop is performed quickly and with certainty,the position of the parts being firmly locked by means of the spring 32and the stops 33.

Ilavin thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The combination, with the base 4 and disk 8, of thepins 7, the spring 9, the terminal sections 10, 11, 12, and 13, the disk19, the bridge-segments 20, the post 27, and the clamp-nut 29,constructed to form a spring pressed frictional contact of thebridge-seg- .ments with the terminal sections and connect or disconnectthe loop and main circuit by the partial rotation of thebridge-segments, as described.

2. In an electric switch or cut-out consisting of terminal metalsegments and bridgesegments constructed to rotate in contact with theterminal sections, the levers 28 and 30, geared to operate together, thespring 32, and stops constructed to hold the bridgesegments in theposition required, as described.

The combination, with the terminal sections 10 11 12 13, the disk 19,and bridge-sections 20, of the post 27, the levers 28 and 30,

and the spring 32, as described.

JOSEPH WV. BAT ERSHALL.

Vitnesses:

NELLIE A. Coornn, JOHN T. BATES.

